COVID-19 Update: We are currently accepting applications. In-person consultations will take place over the summer with modified procedures to comply with physical distancing. Planting will occur in fall.
We encourage you to submit your application now so that you are in the queue. But please be aware that it will take us longer than normal to respond, as demand is high at this time.
Note: all prices are per item and do not include applicable taxes.
Our program is subsidized by our partners and we are dedicated to growing our urban forest by getting the right trees in optimum planting locations. That means that we have some unique policies you should know about:
Trees and shrubs require space below ground for root development and above ground for crown development. Buildings, decks and paving can interfere with a tree or shrub's ability to absorb nutrients and water. Cramped space, compacted soil, overhead wires and competition with other plants can stress them further and leave them susceptible to pests and disease. We will help you select appropriate species for your property based on the available space, rather than trying to fit in species that do not suit your property conditions.
The planting site you have in mind must meet the following minimum space requirements:
| Site Conditions | Shrubs | SMALL Trees | Med-Large Trees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area of soft surface required | 5' x 5' | 10' x 10' (small trees) | 15' x 15' |
| Distance from fence/property line | 3' | 5' | 5' |
| Distance from hard surfaces (deck/paving) | 3' | 5' | 7' |
| Distance from buildings with foundations | 3' | 10' | 10' |
| Distance from existing trees | 8' | 15' | 20' |
| Distance from stumps or existing ash trees | 8' | 8' | 8' |
| Distance from swales | 5' | 5' | 5' |
| Overhead wires | not an issue | avoid | avoid |
| Raised beds or container planting | not recommended | never | never |
For more information on why these space requirements exist, please click here.
The distances listed above are minimum requirements - more space may be required for larger species.
LEAF frequently works with clients who are required to plant a tree as a condition of a tree removal permit. Bylaws vary by municipality, so be sure to check the requirements in your area before removing any tree, and check with your permit officer to make sure that a tree planted/delivered by LEAF will fulfill the terms of your permit. Be sure to ask about:
Most municipalities require a certain size of young tree (measured by caliper, or diameter of the trunk in millimeters). LEAF’s trees are usually smaller than this requirement. We recommend getting verbal approval from your permit officer for this to ensure a tree planted through LEAF will fulfill your permit requirements.
LEAF plants/delivers during spring from April through June and in fall from September through November. We are unable to provide you with a specific planting/delivery date and depending on the timing of your consultation, we may be sold out of some species for the current planting/delivery season. We recommend contacting us well before your planting deadline. If you are contacting us close to your deadline, you will need to ask your permit officer for an extension to the end of the planting/delivery season following your consultation (for example, if you book a consultation for May, you should request that your deadline be extended to November 30th; if you book a consultation for October, you should request that your deadline be extended to June 30th of the following year).
LEAF will recommend species based on the conditions in your property. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to plant/deliver a specific species prior to your consultation. We suggest asking your permit officer to allow you to plant a large or medium native shade tree rather than require a specific species.
Most permit officers in our service regions are familiar with our program and may be willing to make these accommodations for trees planted/delivered by LEAF.
Please note: Confirmations from permit officers regarding size, deadlines and species requirements (as described above) must be confirmed and your old tree removed BEFORE we can conduct your consultation.
If your yard meets our minimum space requirements, you can complete our online application found at the bottom of this page. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to book your site consultation with one of our arborists.
The sooner you book your site consultation, the wider the selection of trees and shrubs you will have to choose from (our program operates on a first-come, first served basis so some species may be limited). You will need to be available for a two-hour window during working hours on a weekday. A limited number of evening and weekend appointments are also available.
During your site consultation, our arborist will talk with you about your yard conditions as well as your preferences to help you select the most appropriate species and planting locations. In order to get the most out of your site consultation, here are some things to think beforehand:
It is essential to ensure your yard meets our minimum space requirements for trees before booking a site consultation.
Site visits are generally carried out from March to November. You will be given a two hour window for your appointment. Your arborist will arrive sometime within that two hour window. During your half-hour consultation, your arborist will:
If you do not own the property you should have the property owner present for the site consultation, or provide a letter of permission signed by the property owner. It must be printed, signed and returned to LEAF by email, fax, or post prior to your site consultation.
LEAF offers a variety of tree species native to southern Ontario. Availability may vary seasonally, so give us a call to learn more! Please note that not all species will be suitable for the sun, soil and space conditions of your property. We'll help you choose species that will do best in your conditions.
Your arborist will take payment in full for your order at the end of your consultation. LEAF accepts payment by cash, cheque, VISA, and Mastercard.
If for any reason you decide not to purchase a tree at the time of the site consultation, there is a $75+HST charge for the site consultation. Your site consultation is valid for the current planting season, so if you make the decision to purchase a tree following your site consultation, the $84.75 you have paid will be deducted from the cost of your order, provided no species or location changes have been made.
If you decide to order only shrubs and/or garden kits at the end of your site consultation, you must pay the $84.75 site consultation fee PLUS the cost of your shrubs and/or kits. The cost of the site consultation is included only when you order a tree.
LEAF is required to request locates from utility companies to ensure that we know where buried cables/wires may be in the backyard. On some occasions, the utility companies may send someone out to visit your property to mark underground utilities.
It is the property owner's responsibility to disclose to LEAF any buried lines or utilities that you or previous property owners may have installed. Examples would include backyard lighting, irrigation systems or pool lines.
We ask you to do the following in order to ensure your yard is ready for us:
Once you have paid for your order in full, we will plant your trees and shrubs in either our spring or fall planting season. Spring planting begins in April and continues through June. Fall planting begins in September and continues through November. Your planting could take place at any point during these three-month periods.
We will notify you two days prior of your planting date, but unfortunately cannot provide you with a specific time of day. In order to maintain the most efficient planting routes, we are unable to accommodate any scheduling requests. You do not need to be home on the day of planting, as long as we have access to your backyard. This means that any gates must be left unlocked all day.
We will plant and mulch your trees and shrubs, water them, and leave our care guide in your mailbox. Please be sure to read through and follow the care guide, as you will need to follow the instructions in order for our guarantee to apply. If you do not see the care guide in your mailbox on the day we plant, contact us and we will ensure you receive one.
If we are delivering shrubs that you are planting yourself, they will be left in your backyard, along with some extra mulch. They should be planted as soon as possible. Be sure to water them every day until planted as the pots dry out very quickly!
LEAF is committed to growing our urban forest, and by planting with us you agree to join us in that goal – thank you! We guarantee that, as long as proper care instructions are followed, trees/shrubs will produce leaves by the first July 15th after planting.
Trees/shrubs planted or delivered in spring (between April 1-June 30): If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of that same year, you must contact us by that same date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Trees/shrubs planted or delivered in fall (between Sept 1- Nov 30): If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of the following year, you must contact us by that same date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Please note: LEAF will not consider replacing plants when concerns are received after this deadline, or when proper care, including twice-weekly watering, has not been provided. Animal damage, weather damage or other damage that occurs to your tree after planting is not covered.
Getting the right tree in the right place is the first important step to success. However, with proper care, provided regularly by diligent property owners, we know that our trees will thrive. You play the most important role in growing our urban forest - ensuring the trees and shrubs you've planted are watered and protected!
For the first two years after planting, you will need to:
1. Water your trees and shrubs twice per week using approximately 6 gallons of water each time. That is the equivalent of using 3 full watering cans twice per week or using a hose with no nozzle on a very slow trickle for approximately 15 minutes twice per week.
2. Replenish the wood chip mulch at the base of your trees and shrubs as it decomposes, being careful to ensure it's in a donut shape and not touching the trunk/stem.
3. Protect your trees and shrubs from lawn mower and weed-whacker damage - this can be fatal.
4. Avoid using chemical fertilizers or pesticides in your yard - these can damage young trees and shrubs.
Refer to the Tree Care section of our site for more details.
The biggest factor in your tree or shrub's growth is the care it receives! Different tree and shrub species grow at different rates, but you can get the best out of any tree or shrub by watering regularly and replenishing mulch as it decomposes. For the first two years after planting, your tree or shrub will likely focus most of its energy below ground establishing a strong root system, so don’t be discouraged if it looks like not much is happening! If you continue to provide regular water and mulch, you’ll be rewarded in time! We're always amazed at how quickly our trees or shrubs grow once they are established.
The right start in life is crucial for your newly planted tree. Leave the hard work to us! Get your LEAF tree on the right track with our maintenance package.
Ready to get your tree?We encourage you to submit your application now so that you are in the queue. But please be aware that it will take us longer than normal to respond, as demand is high at this time.
